U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Venezuela

November 22, 1995

Country Description:

Venezuela is a middle-income country with a well-developed transportation infrastructure. Scheduled air service and good all-weather roads, some poorly marked and congested around urban centers, connect major cities and all regions of the country. Its tourism infrastructure varies in quality according to location and price.

Entry requirements:

A valid passport and a visa or tourist card are required. Tourist cards are issued on flights from the U.S. to Venezuela. For current information concerning entry, tax, and customs requirements for Venezuela, contact the Venezuelan Embassy at 1099 30th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007; tel: (202) 342-2214, or the consulates in New York, Miami, Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, Houston, San Francisco, and San Juan.

Areas of Instability:

Cross-border violence occurs frequently in remote areas along the Colombian border in Zulia, Tachira, Apure and Amazonas states. U.S. citizens should consult the U.S. Embassy if they plan to visit these areas. There have been no recent terrorist actions against visitors. In July 1995, however, the U.S. Embassy received information indicating that U.S. citizens in the region bordering Colombia may be targets for kidnapping by Colombian guerrillas.

Health and Medical facilities:

Medical care in Caracas is very good at private hospitals and clinics. Cash payment is usually demanded. Most hospitals and clinics, however, accept credit cards. In rural areas outside Caracas, physicians and medical supplies may be minimal. [...]

Crime Information:

Most crime is economically motivated. Pickpockets concentrate in and around crowded bus and subway stations, along with the area around "Parque Simon Bolivar" near the "Capitolio" in downtown Caracas. There have been cases of theft from hotel safe deposit boxes. The "Barrios" (the poor neighborhoods that cover the hills around Caracas) and isolated urban parks such as "El Calvario" in the "El Silencio" area of Caracas can be very dangerous. Most criminals are armed with guns or knives, and will use force. There is potential for theft of unattended valuables on the beach, and from rental cars parked in isolated areas or on city streets. A guarded garage is not always a guarantee against theft.

Highway Travel:

Outside the major cities, night driving can be dangerous because of unmarked road damage or repairs in progress, unlighted vehicles, and livestock. Stops at national guard and local police checkpoints ("Alcabalas") are mandatory. Drivers should follow all national guard instructions and be prepared to show vehicle and insurance papers and passports. Vehicles may be searched. Very economical but less safe bus service is available to most locations.

Currency Restrictions:

[...] Credit cards are accepted at most upscale tourist establishments. Outside the major cities, a good supply of Venezuelan currency is necessary.

Drug Penalties:

U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use and trafficking in illegal drugs in Venezuela are strict, and convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. Prison conditions are abject.

Other Information:

Sporadic political demonstrations occur in urban centers. These tend to focus primarily on or near university campuses or secondary schools, and sometimes turn violent. Most tourist destinations, however, remain unaffected. The number and intensity of demonstrations have fluctuated widely. Merida, a major tourist destination in the Andes, is traditionally the scene of regular student demonstrations.

Travelers may keep informed of local developments by following the local press (including "The Daily Journal," an English language newspaper), radio and TV, and consulting their local hosts, including U.S. and Venezuelan business contacts, hotels, tour guides, and travel organizers for current information on demonstrations, the purpose and location of which are usually announced in advance.

U.S. citizens visiting certain areas along the border with Colombia may be subject to search and seizure, as well as restrictions as to where they may travel in those areas, due to the suspension of several constitutional guarantees in order to permit the military to act expeditiously against potential cross-border guerrilla incursions. Constitutional guarantees have been restored in other parts of the country, however. For further information regarding travel to these areas, contact the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. A number of U.S. citizens have reported that Venezuelan officials at airports, immigration offices, and police stations have demanded bribes. U.S. citizens should report immediately to the U.S. Embassy any such demand.

U.S. citizens who do not have Venezuelan cedulas (national identity cards) must carry their passports with them at all times. Photocopies of passports prove valuable in facilitating their replacement if lost or stolen. [...]

Registration/Embassy Location:

U.S. citizens may register at the consular section of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, and may also obtain updated information on travel and security within Venezuela. The U.S. Embassy is located at Calle Suspure and Calle F, Colinas de Valle Arriba, tel. (58-2) 977-2011. A part-time Consular Agent has been approved for western Venezuela to replace services lost when the Consulate in Maracaibo was closed in February 1994. The U.S. Embassy anticipates that the Consular Agent will begin providing services during the first quarter of calendar year 1996.

This replaces the consular information sheet dated September 2, 1994 to update information on aviation oversight, crime, areas of instability, health and medical facilities, currency restrictions, and the location of the U.S. Embassy.